Infrared Saunas in Australia

I sit alone,staring at my own reflection, with a soft amber glow around me. The air is warm to breathe and smells faintly of lemon, wood and oak. A drop of sweat runs down my back and I feel another one forming onmy forehead. I inhaledeeply as the airgrows warmer and warmer, and I feel a sense of deep peace. A soft smile danceson the corner of my lips as one of my favouritesongs floats out of a small speaker behind me. Where might I be you ask? In an infrared sauna of course!

Saunas are one of the most effective biohacking tools you can get your hands on, and there are a ton of infrared saunas in Australia! Saunas have been around for centuries. Sauna is an ancient Finnish word which refers to a traditional Finnish bath or a bathhouse. Finland is where saunas first gained popularity and almost every home in Finland today still features a built-in sauna. Most of us have probably had a sauna at some stage, either at our local gym or at a hotel. Infrared saunas are now coming into vogue in the health and wellness industry and are one of the best ways to relax and detoxify the body.

What is an Infrared Sauna?

The primary difference with infrared saunas is the heating method they use. Conventional saunas (such as those found at your local gym or at a hotel) warm the air around you. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, use infrared heating which heats up your body’s core temperature at the cellular level. This makes them more effective at penetrating tissue and reaching stores of toxins in the body.

Infrared saunas heat up your body temperature and make you sweat at a much lower temperature than traditional saunas. Therefore, most people find infrared saunas more comfortable than conventional saunas. There are three different wavelengths of infrared heating – near, mid and far. Used at certain frequencies, these wavelengths can produce different health benefits. The most common or well know spectrum used is far infrared.

Benefits of Infrared Saunas:

Studies on infrared saunas have shown numerous benefits including:

Detoxification;

Relaxation;

Longevity and increased heart health;

Reduced joint pain (e.g. for patients with arthritis);

Weight loss; and

Athletic recovery (including relief of muscle soreness).

My Experience withInfrared Saunas:

Personally, I’ve only tried infrared sauna a few times (early this year in the lead up to my wedding). I felt really relaxed and at peace during and after the sauna. I found that it was a great way to unwind from a busy day at work. I was able to attach my iPhone (outside the sauna) and have music or a podcast playing during the session. I noticed that my skin felt really soft following the sauna and my stomach even seemed flatter the following day (possibly as a result of reducing inflammation and toxins in the body). I did find the heat more bearable than traditional saunas (which usually give me headaches). I sweated a fair bit during the sauna, so I suggest you have plenty of water to drink before and after the sauna to keep hydrated.

Infrared Heating Alternatives:

Some hot yoga studios are now using infrared heating. I attend Pilates and yoga classes at Harlow Yoga in Brisbane, who have infrared heating in their Milton and Newstead studios. I find their classes much more enjoyable than other hot yoga places I have tried and always walk out feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I try to attend a class (or two) per week.

There are also infrared lights that you can buy (however I have not personally used these myself).

Length & Frequency of Infrared Sauna Sessions:

Infrared sauna sessions are typically 30 minutes in length but can go up to 2 hours long. If it’s your first time, it’s best to start with 15 to 20 minutes and then increase the time from there. The longest session I’ve done is 45 minutes. To gain the benefits of infrared saunas you should have one at least once a week and there is nothing wrong with having one every day. However, if you don’t own a sauna (or know someone who does) this can get quite expensive!

Local Infrared Saunas in Australia:

Below is a list of places that offer infrared saunas (per capital city).

Detox Centre Perth, located at 1/158 Cambridge Street, West Leederville Is going in an infrared sauna something you incorporate into your biohacking routine? What do you use infrared saunas for? We’d love to know so please leave a comment below 🙂

Bio: I’m a biohacker who is passionate about nutrition and optimising my health. The loves of my life include my husband, my friends and family, and avocado (some may say I have an addiction!). My mission is to try and help everyone enjoy a happy and healthy existence.